Double Click on Double Clicking to Transform your Workplace Culture

Has anyone ever asked you what your preference is in the way people behave and treat each other at work? Have they ever tried to find out what things make you happy to come to work and why? What would it mean to you if they did?

Double Clicking. What is it?

This is what Judith Glaser calls “Double Clicking.” It is taking a deeper dive into the way people think and feel about an issue. Imagine if everyone in your workplace were asked the same questions designed to uncover how they want the workplace to be and feel. What difference would that make to the way people treat each other at work?

“Double clicking” is the third Conversational Essential to share from Judith’s work in Conversational Intelligence. It is a very simple yet powerful concept that is an integral part of coaching practice. When you “Double Click” on a computer file you open a file within a file and so on, until you reach the file you are after. In the coaching world, this “double click” action is analogous to taking a deeper look into what is being shared. This helps us discover more about what is driving the person’s thoughts and actions.

Why is Double Clicking so Powerful in the Workplace?

Double Clicking has a bucket load of benefits when done for the right reasons. It comes from a place of caring courage and candour. Skilled and appropriate use of “double clicking provides benefit as follows:

1. People feel heard and understood

When someone takes the time to ask and listen to what you have to say, it has the effect of making you feel as though that person cares. Feeling heard and understood is an oxytocin producing event. It is the first step in lowering defences to enable you to connect with others.

2. It builds trust

Naturally, when you feel heard and understood and that your opinion matters, you are more likely to trust.

3. It brings clarity and shared meaning

Have you noticed how misunderstanding and consequent resentment grows without shared meaning? Shared meaning in this context may relate to the process by which individuals sort out their differences. Have you ever asked your partner “how do you like to solve a conflict or argument?”, “how did it come to be that way?” and “how well does this work for you in the different relationships in your life?”

If you have never “Double Clicked” on this topic with anyone, you should try it!

It is so interesting discover how people have very different “virtual conflict rule books”. These rules that are not universally accepted or written down anywhere. Still, we imagine that everyone around us instinctively knows them! If you are frustrated by the way your partner expresses their frustrations, you will most likely discover with “Double Clicking” that you are fighting by different rules.

When you understand a person’s rules for behaving and they understand yours, you can now create your own special “conflict” rules and play a much more productive game!

4. It makes the invisible visible

By double clicking you can find clarity and shared meaning. You can see the way each person is interpreting their world. This means that the elephants in the room are revealed. It is only when the unspoken thoughts and feelings are spoken that we can begin to take steps to address people’s concerns.

5. Assumptions are addressed

Our primitive brains do not like uncertainty. We need to understand what something means so we know if we need to protect ourselves or safely connect. If there is no clear information our brain fills in the gaps with whatever seems logical to us at that time. We cannot make an educated guess without making assumptions. These are often incorrect. Incorrect assumptions are the biggest culprit producing misunderstanding.

When we “double click” for clarity and shared meaning, there is no longer a need for us to assume.

Double Clicking on your Workplace Culture

Based on my training and expertise, I have developed a unique workplace cultural audit program. This program takes full advantage of all the benefits that “Double Clicking” has to offer.

First I ask and listen….

I find various ways to ask and listen carefully to people’s stories and to the meaning and impact of those stories.

For example, how does their experience affect the way they go about their work? Which parts of their job do they love? Which parts make them want to stick around? Which parts brings them down, such that it drives them to feel the need to leave? Do all people share the same view? Are there patterns of behaviour that are not supportive of feelings of trust and connection?

Each workplace is unique. I love finding providing tools and finding ways to create that engaged workplace. This is a place where people trust, feel connected and valued. Where they are able to bring their best self to work and not fear that someone will pull them down. This is not about “giving people what they want.” It is about the way we show up to work. It’s how we keep within the company guard rails and co-create the way we want to treat another as part of our daily workplace rituals.

Then I pull it all together into a Co-Creative Culture Manifesto

From the data we create a WOW (Way of Working) Manifesto. This is an extensive document that clearly describes how the company employees want the workplace to be, feel and do their work. It is a living document that is made by the people, for the people! It provides a framework for managers, employees and new recruits alike. It excludes no-one and is the responsibility of all.

All the literature around employee engagement shows that happy people make productive workers. Productive and happy workers are less likely to leave. My Way of Working Manifesto tells us in detail what people think a happy workplace looks like. This means Mangers and People Leaders are not shooting in the dark or guessing how to make their employees “happy”. It gives them decision influencing data directly relating to engagement and expected behaviours.

What’s the Return on Investment?

As a people leader, you instinctively know when you have an employee engagement or cultural issue. Imagine the power of a deep dive into this culture and the impact this can have on retention rates and productivity. It can also provide a valuable tool for staff induction and attracting talented staff.

If you can see the advantage of Double Clicking on your company culture, reach out to discover what this could look like for you.

Hi there! I’m Jacqui Snider and I’m here to help you and your business grow and flourish.

As an Occupational Therapist and Workplace Culture Coach and Trainer, I am passionate about helping individuals and organisations develop better home and workplace practices that everyone enjoys being part of. With more than 35 years of coaching experience, I have personally coached and trained in excess of 350 leaders, bringing about transformational change in both individuals and teams.

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